Electric switch



June 28, 193 2. J. A, HANDFORD 1,865,315

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed June 13, 1950 Fatentecl June 28, 1932 PATENTOFFICE JOHN A. I-IANDFORD, OF NEW BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS ELECTRIC SWITCHApplication filed June 13, 1930. Serial No. 460,992.

This invention relates to an electric door knocker and has as itsprimary object to provide a door knocker embodying an electric switchadapted to be closed when the swinging member of the knocker isactuated, so as to close an electric circuit through a bell or buzzerwithin the residence upon the door of which the device is mounted,thereby rendering it possible to extend the conductor wires of the bellor other signal system to a bell or buzzer in a servants room, wherebythe servant will be notified when a visitor calls whereas, in the use ofthe ordinary door knocker, the servant may be so far removed from thedoor that he would not hear the knocker.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric signal circuitclosing unit which will be installed upon a door and in the body of anornamental knocker, so that all of the beauty of the knocker will bepreserved inasmuch as the actuating element of the circuit closingswitch is concealed by the swinging knocker of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric door knockerby the use of which all of the advantages to be gained by the use of anindependent knocker and inclependent push button for a bell or othersignal, may be obtained, in a unitary structure, without the presence ofthe circuit closing unit being observable.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electric door knockerin which the electric switch will function more effectually than mostpush button switches, inasmuch as it is contemplated by the inventionthat it be so constructed as to hold the swinging member of the knockerin a slightly outwardly swung position where it may be convenientlygrasped.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several. parts,

to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, and specifically pointed out in the appended claim, it beingunderstood of course that minor changes may be made so long as they fallwithin the scope of the claim.

In describing my invention in detail, ref erence will be had to theaccompanying drawing, wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the knocker embodying theinvention.

Figure2 is a view in side elevation thereof, the switch unit being shownin elevation and a portion of the body of the knocker being shown insection to better illustrate the said switch unit.

Figure 3 is a detail view partly in section and partly in elevationillustrating the construction of the switch unit and the manner in whichthe swinging member of the knocker coacts with an element of the switchunit, the view also illustrating, diametrically, the elec tric signalcircuit.

The knocker comprises a body 1 which is of metal and preferably of solidformation except for a recess 2 which is formed in its rear side, thisside of the knocker body being fiat so that the body may be disposedagainst the face of a door, indicated by the reference 7 character D andheld in place by bolts 3 fitted through openings 4: in the door andhaving their heads counter-sunk, the inner ends of the bolts beingthreaded into sockets (not shown) formed in the said flat rear side ofthe knocker body.

The kn ocker unit includes the usual swinging knocker member 5 which inthe illustrated embodiment of the invention is of arcuate form and thebody 2 is formed at the forward end of the recess 2 with an extension 6,the forward end of which is flat as indicated by the numeral 7. Theswinging knocker 5 is formed at the intermediate portion of its bow witha head 8 which is somewhat flared in a forward direction so as toprovide a finger knob 9, and the body 1 is formed in its portion 6 withan opening 10 which is located directly opposite the head 8 of theswinging knocker.

The rear side of the body 1. is formed with a shallow recess asindicated by the numeral 11, and the numeral 12 indicates guide memberwhich is of metal and which ncludes side portions 13 and a connectingend portion 14. The side portions 13, terminate, at their inner ends, inright angularly extending terminal portions 15 which are disposed withinthe recess 11. Another guide member 16 comprises side members 17 and aconnecting end member 18 corresponding to the side members 13 andconnecting member 14 of a previously described guide, and the sidemembers 17 are formed with right angular extensions 19 which overlap theextensions 15 of the side members 13 of the first mentioned guide. A capplate 20, of metal, closes the recess 11, and screws 21 are fittedthrough openings in this cap plate and through open-n ings in theextensions 11, 15 and 19 of the guide members 12 and 16, and washers 22of insulating material are arranged upon the bolts 21 between theextensions 19 and the cap plate 20, other insulating washers 23 beingarranged upon the bolts and engaging between the heads of the bolts andthe cap plate 20.

The openings in the plate 20 are of greater diameter than the bolts 21,so that these bolts are not in contact with the cap plate although theyare in contact with the extensions 15 and 19 of the guide members 12 and16.

A plunger of cylindrical form and of metal. indicated by the numeral 2 1is slidably fitted through openings formed in the end members 14 and 18of the two guide memhers, and this plunger is likewise slidably fittedthrough the opening 10 so that one end of the plunger projects beyondthe flat end 7 of the said portion 6 of the body of the ltnocker andtherefore is normally in contact with the rear side of the head 8 of theswinging knocker. A collar 25 is fixed upon the bolts 24, andacompression spring 26 is arranged upon the bolt and bears at one endagainst the collar and at its other end against the connecting piece 18of the guide member 16, and it will be understood at this point that thespring yieldably holds'the plunger 24 in a forwardly or outwardlyshifted position.

The numeral 27 indicates a small. bolt which is fitted through anopening formed in the cap plate 20 at a point in horizontal alinementwith the axis of the plunger 24, the head 28 of this bolt being roundedand a nut 29 being threaded onto the bolt.

The opening through which the bolt extends is of a greater diameter thanthat of the bolt. andwashers 30 of insulating material are arranged uponthe bolt between the head thereof and the cap plate 20 and also betweenthe nut 29 and the said cap plate so that the bolt is concealed from thecap plate.

A conductor wire 31 is connected with one of the bo ts 21and to oneterminal of a battery 32 or other source of current supply, and aconductor wire 33 is led from the other pole of the battery to oneterminal of an electric bell or buzzer 34, which bell or buzzer will beinstalled at any desired place within the residence. The numeral 35indicates a conductor wire which is connected with the bolt 27 and thiswire is connected to the other terminal of the bell or buzzer signal 34.

From the foregoing description of the invention it will be understoodthat normally the inner end of the plunger 24 is held, by the spring 26,in spaced relation with respect to the head of the bolt 27 and thereforethe circuit will normally be open. However, when the rocking member ofthe knocker is actuated by a caller or visitor, the impact of the head 8thereof with the plunger, will result in the plunger being shiftedinwardly against thetension of the spring 26 and into engagement, at itsinner end, with the head 28 of the bolt 27 thereby closing the circuit,above described. Preferably the distance to which the forward or outerend of the plunger projects beyond the flat end 7 of the extension 6will be but very slightly greater than the distance between the head 28of the bolt 27 and the inner end of the plunger, so that the engagementof the plunger with the bolt will be insured, and at this point it willbe understood that the swinging knocker may be held, by pressure exertedagainst it, in such position as to maintain the plunger in suchengagement with the bolt 27 if response is not obtained by operating theknocker by several repeated swinging movements as is customary.

lVhat I claim is:

A device of the kind indicated comprising a body for mounting on a dooror wall surface formed with a bore or recess opening on its r ar face, aguide disposed in said recess and composed of two members of which eachconsists of parallel side portions and a connecting end portion, theside portions terminating in oppositely disposed right angularextensions, one of said members being shorter than the other and beingdisposed between the side portions of the same with its extensions incontact with the extensions of the first, a plunger slidably mounted inguide openings in the end portions of said member, a shoulder on saidplunger, a spring surrounding said plunger and bearing one end againstthe shoulder on the same and the other end against the end portion ofthe shorter member, a plate spanning the extensions of the two membersand having a center contact for engagement by said plunger whendepressed, and screws passing through said contact plate and throughsaid extensions to secure said members and the plunger to said body, thelatter having an opening in the front wall in axial alignment with saidrecess to permit the extension of the forward end of the plungertherethrough.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JOHN A. HANDFORD.

